The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1702, 14 March 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1882.

We often hear it; asserted that there are always two sides to a question, but to state that there are two sides to an agreement would be a bold assertion. The “ Bridgenorth election " is often quoted, and if ever there was a parallel to it from the point of view in which it is customary to consider it, there can be; no doubt whatever but that the celebrated “sludge-channel agreement” comes nearer to it than anything before heard of; ibis all on one aide. The

twenty-three minters have pledged themselves to do a variety of things, while the Government have Virtually agreed to nothing. It is quite natural to suppose that those who have beten subjected to enforced idleness for a lengthened period should be prepared to risk a great deal io the direction of making some arrangement which would enable them to proceed with the employment by which they maintain their families and themselves. At the same time it cannot but bo regretted that fair time for the consideration of the Government proposals was not given before their acceptation, even by a comparatively small number of those who hope and expect to avail themselves of the sludge-channel, in getting rid of their tailings while working their claims. It mnst be taken for granted that the Government proposals had been prepared with all due forethought, and there is no reason why those principally interested should not have had a fair opportunity afforded them to under, stand in the most distiuct manner, even the most minute details of the document they were expected to sign. But apart from this, it appears that the framers of the wonderful agreement, a copy of which appeared in last Wednesday’s issue, have fallen into precisely the same error which the Board of Education committed when they took upon themselves the task of superseding the functions of the Governor and the Assembly in framing GoldMining Regulations for the Kumara Education Reserve. Turn to the third clause of the “ sludge-channel agreement,” and it will be found that these words occur :—“ No certificate for any tail-race shall be granted by the Warden unless it shall be certified to him by the manager that such tail-race may be safely allowed to be connected with the channel.” Of course this is the most ridiculous nonsense, for everyone except those connected with the Public Works Department know perfectly well that under the Mines Act, and the Mining Regulations, the Warden is invested with entire power as to the granting of certificates for tail-races? and all the agreements in the. world cannot dispossess him of that power, so long as the Act and Regulations are in force. It is a great pity that those who accept the responsibility of drawing up important official documents connected solely with mining matters? do not take the trouble to peruse the Regulations, and so avoid some of the prepostei ous blunders so frequently committed. As we have said, the agreement signed by the twenty-three miners, is a most oue-sided one, and some of its provisions could not be enforced in a court of law if all the miners in the district signed it. Writing upon this subject, the West Coast Times remarks:—“ A party of miners who succeed, after much labor and self-denial, in opening up a claim should nob. be met by the Government with a demand for a considerable sum of money before they can obtain the necessary water, without which all their toil must be useless. This ‘ money or your life’ principle has been tried once before, and found wanting. One consequence of the Government’s action will be to drive away a number of the population. There is absolutely no necessity for the change ; it is universally condemned. We should like to know if any of the Wardens were consulted on the subject. If they were, we should like to see their opinions printed. If they were not consulted, they should have been. The treatment which the Kumara miners are now receiving at the hands of the Government should convince them of the justice of the arguments we have repeatedly advanced to show that the present Ministry have no sympathy with gold-mining.”